Leverage hackamore bridle



Jan. 9, 1940.

l. slMQN LEVERAGE HAcKAlonE BIDLE Filed June 25, v1939 INVENTOR.l

"Yaff 7M ATToRNEYs. v

Patented Jan. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PTENT oFFlcE LEVERAGE vHA'CKAMoItn isnnLE WillianrI.l Simon, Kirkland, I Application June 2s, `1939, serial No. 280,822

To those familiarl with the art, it has for some time been considered advantageous to use bitless bridles,hackam'ores and the` like, for controlling the movements of the horse. The common feature 5 of all these devices is the'elimination of a vbit or curb extending through the horses mouth. l

The elimination of the bit is particularly desirable in the vcase of horses having tender mouths, or those having dispositions prone to fight the bit, or to slobber: Further, it has been found that young and fractious animals may be more easily controlled by downward and backward pressure on the nose than by similar lpressure on the jaw, as isthecase with ordinary bit bridles, Among l5 the .typesof bitless bridles heretofore devised,

those considered most effective are of the leverage type; that is, where a rearward pull ofthe reinsl produces a tightening of nose and `chin straps by leverage-means. These bridles, however, have a common faulty in that thepressures yarenot appliedatthe most effective points. As a rule; bridles of this type applydownwardpres- -sure too low on .the noser structure of the horse, and upward curbing pressure too high on the jaw structure.

I have found that pressure too low on the nose-on the cartilageous structure below the nose bone bridge-shuts off the horses wind, and .generally results in the animal fighting the bit, making it unnecessarily hard to control. Further, where the curb is placed high on the jawbone structure, such great curb pressure must be applied that in many instances injury to the ''esh is caused, followed by chapping and sores. g'The best control can be most efficiently attained by pressures by a nose band positioned v highonthe bridge of the animals nose andwell 'above the'soft cartilageous structure, and a curb positioned in the chin groove, just back of lthe lower lip. With the above in mind, the objects of my invention are,- f First, to provide a leverage type hackamore bridlecf simple sturdy construction 4having a minimum number of parts and which can be easily and cheaply constructed;

Second, to provide a bridle of the type ,inenltioned which is humane and which will apply controlling pressures at the most eifective points; Third, to provide a bridle of the type described .wherein the parts 4are constructed so that down- `ward and rearward pressure is applied high on the horses nose by the -rearward pull of the s reins, I`and coincidentally curb tightening `pressure is applied in the horses chin groove near the outer endvjofthe lower jaw. Fourth, to provide a bridle of the type de-f scribed wherein the leverage plates are positively prevented -fromdislodgernent from operative po- 5 sitionby pitching or tossing of the horses head. Other objects `will appear hereinafter. I attain the foregoing objects by means of the' vdevices illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhichf- 'f 10 Figure 1 is av perspective of the bridle in place upon'ahor'ses head; v

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the leverage portion of the bridle drawn on a somewhat enlarged scale; Figure 3yisa front elevation of same; i Figure 4is a front elevation of a slightly modified form of cheek plate; and Figure 5 is an elevation vof same sectioned substantially on lline 5 5, Figure 4.

Similar 4numerals refer to similar parts in the several views.A Q f V The bridle consists, in general, of a hackmore headstall I, composed of cheekstraps 2, a brow band 3, a crown piece 4, and a throat latch 5, 25

` all -joined in the usual .manner by a rosette 6,

togetherwith the levarage assembly which includes'the cheekplates 'I, rein levers 8, nose band 9 andjcurb I8. Reins II are attached to rings in the lower portionsof the rein levers. 30

Cheek plates 1 are each composed of an inner plate SI2, an outer plate I3 and include nose band plates I4; .Y Each of these plates are usually joined at the top by a rivet i5. vAt the bottom the outer and inner plates are joined by a shoul- 35 dered rivet I6 so that the mid portion of the rivet formsfa journal to pivotally support the .rein levers 8. 4In order to better illustrate the shouldered rivet I 6, it is shown in Figure 4 as it would appearbefore peaning over. 4 Each offthe outer'plates I3 is slotted, as at I7, and the metalon the upper side of the slot upset to formv bars, I8 to .receive the lower end of Vthe cheek straps' 2. y

Nose' band 9 is preferably composed of a base 45 strap I9 run through slots 38 in each of the pates I4. This base strap is overlaid with a pressure pad 2| made of braided leather strips, felt padlding covered withfsuede, or the like. The strap I 9- of this nose band is of proper 50 width and texture to support the weight of the nose band when resting on the horses nose bridge and resist any tendency of the band to droop, or slip downwardon the nose. Ordinarily, thehackymore is iittedas shown in Figure 1, and the nose band 9 held in xed position relative to cheek plates 1 by the nose band plate I4, retained in fixed position by rivets I5. Where, however, it is desired to change the angle of plates I4 relative to cheek plates I3, to create a greater upward stress, or move the nose band upward at a more acute angle to the cheek straps in order to fit it to animals having differently shaped nose bridges, or for other similar reasons, I provide the structure shown in Figures 4 and 5. Here the nose band plate I4 is provided with a serrated disk or attached washer 35, which matches a similar disk 36 on the inside of the outer plate I3. Rivet i5 is replaced by a machine screw and nut 31. When the nut or screw 3'I` is loosened the registering serrations permit relative pivotal adjustment, but when tightened the plate I4 is rigidly held in position.

Each of the rein levers consists essentially of a normally downwardly depending rein arm 2li, a normally downwardly and rearwardly extending curb lever arm 25, and a rounded web plate 2li, joining the upper ends of these arms. The top of the web is pierced to receive the rivet I6 on which it pivotally bears and in normal position, as illustrated in Figures l and 2, therein lever freely swings on this pivot bearing. kThelower end of each rein arm 24 is provided with a ring 2 to receive the reins i i, and the lower extremity of each curb lever 25 is provided with an annular ring 2B. These rein levers are preferably made by a stamping from a metal plate o suiiicient thickness and strength to maintain the desi-red shape under all stresses to which they may be' subjected.

Rein levers are made in pairs, right and lert respectively. Lugs 3Q are Welded to the outside of each lever, adjacent the forward edge and near the top to form ashoulder stop contacting the front edge of the outer plate i3 of each cheek plate. These lugsprevent the rein levers 8 from turning too far in reverse (counterclcclrwise as viewed in Figure 2) direction, or. toa point where rein ring 2l would be above pivot I6. This prevents accidental loss of control which might be occasioned by the horse pitching or tossing its head.

Curb il) preferably has a chain middle portion 3| to lend weight, and buckled straps 32'to connect the end links with the curb lever rings 28. The forward portions of these rings are'bent inwardly to facilitate the passage ofthe loops of straps 32 around the forward edge of ring 28 and through the curved slot between it and the rear edge of the rein arm. This construction permits the curb, when in position, depending between rings 28 to maintain the same relative vertical position throughout movement o the rein levers. As these are-brought up by a rearward pull of the reins the straps 32 slidearound rings 28, permitting the curb chain SI to remain swinging downwardly between them and to maintain its position in the esh constituting the horses chin groove 2i. This motion is illustrated in dotted outline 2i) in Figure 2.

To prevent lateral displacement an alinement bar 33 is looped at each end through rings2l on the rein levers. It is of sufficient size and strengthl Y to hold the lower ends of these levers in the desired spaced relation, corresponding approximately to the width of the horses mouth.

The eiiicient operation of this bridle depends on the relative position of the centers of the bearing rivet i6 (which may be termed the ful- A'Il crum pin), the rein arm ring2'l, and the curb lever ring 28. In noting the relation of' these points it will be understood that the length of.

the line A-B, representing the leverage value of the rein arm, is proportionately longer than line A-C, representing the leverage value of the curb lever. The relative difference in length of these lines is proportionate to the mechanical advantage desired. Point A is the fulcrum and the lever is of the second class. From the drawing it is apparent that the angle BAC is quite acute, and while the degree of opening is not critical it is essential that the angle be kept as small as possible-taking into consideration the necessary width of the lever bars and placement of the centers above mentioned. f

A more critical requirement in the placement of center C relative to centers A and B is ex- I plained as follows: Take the line D-E substantially parallel with the ridge of the horses nose as a base, project line FAG at substantially right angles thereto, and substantially alined with the center of the nose band. Now point C must lie forward of this line when the lever is in the loose or normal position. Therefore, it can be said thatvthe center of ring 28 lies forward of a line perpendicular to the nose ridge of the horse and passing through the center of pivot or fulcrum on the cheek plates. When in this position the curb is swung so that it rests in the horses chin groove.k At the same time the positions of the cheek plates are adjusted by means of the cheek straps of the head stall until the point of pivot A is above (further toward the top of the horses head), the center C of the .curb lever ring. To permit this cheek straps 2 looped over bars I8 on cheek plates lil are provided with buckles or equivalent take-up devices.' Adjusted in this manner the construction of the several parts permits the nose band Q to set high on-the bridge of the horses nose and to remain there 'without tendency toward downward movement or stress throughout all operation of the rein levers. The length of the nose band is not critical. It is only necessary that it is of sufficient length so that the cheek plates are positioned approximately adjacent the upper end rof the horses upper jaw bone.

With the nose band and cheek plates `correctly positioned the vcurb straps are adjusted so that when the rein levers lieloosely in normalposition, as shown` in Figure 1, with the lugs 30 limiting further forward motion, the `curb chain rests snugly but not necessarily tightly in the horses' chin groove. From this position rearward or upward pull on the reins operates levers 8 in a counter clockwise direction toward the extreme position illustrated by the dotted outline, Figure 2. In making this motion it will be noted that the take-up, or upward displacement of the curb relative to its position in the horses chin groove, is very much greater than its rearward displacement. This latter is so small, that the curb is never dislodged from the chin groove since the flesh yields sufficiently to accommodate this rearward shift. The eiect of this motion is 5 ylevers this pressure may be easily made suliciently severe to control even the most fractious horses. After only a slight amount of training the horse becomes accustomed to these pressures and only a light pull on the reins is necessary to control it. Thismakes the bridle very humane, and eliminates fretting, fouching and fighting the bit, as caused by devices where pressures are unnecessarily severe and anatomically ineiciently applied. Y

Various changes and modications maysuggest themselves to those familiar with the art, all of which, however, would remainlwithin the spirit of the invention as herein disclosed. Therefore,

I wish to be limited only by the following claims-` I claim: i 1. A leverage hackamore having a head stall including cheek straps, in ycombination with a pair of cheek plates adjustably supported on saidv cheek straps, a flexible nose band archedly supported by said cheek plates to rest high on the nose bridle of the horse, rein levers pivotally sup-I ported on and normally depending from said cheek plates, said rein levers each having downwardly depending rein levers vand downward and slightly rearwardly extending curb levers joined at the top by an arched connecting web, rings attached at the lower ends of' said levers, thel center of therings on said curb levers being positioned forward o-f the alinement of said nose band and the pivotal support of said rein levers and a curb chain depending between the rings on said lcurb lever arms.

2. A leverage hackamore having a head stall, y

including a crown band, a throat latch, and cheek straps, a pair of cheek plates attached to the lower ends of said cheek straps adapted toI be positioned approximately adjacent the upper end of the horses mouth on each side thereof, respectively, a flexible nose band attached at each end to the upper` portion of said cheek plates positioned to extend over the upper bridge of the horses nose, a pair of rein levers pivotally attached to the lower portion of said cheek plates, having downwardly depending rein levers and substantially downwardly depending curb levers, rings attached to the lowerextremities of said levers, a curb chain swingably attached tothe rings on said curb levers so as to slide freely therearound while depending therebetween, said curb lever rings being positioned approximately directly below said pivotal attachment vso that, when said rein levers hangin normal relaxed position, said rcurb chain depending therefrom will rest inthe chin groove of the horse.

3. In 'a leverage haclramore, in combination, a i

pair of cheek plates and a pair .fof rein levers pivotally bearing in and supported by said cheek plates, said, rein levers having downwardly depending rein levers and substantially downwardly depending curhlever arms, the lower end of said curb lever arm having an annular Vring adapted to attachment to a curbchainfwhere i said curb chain may vertically depend therefrom, and freely slip around said ring to maintain said vertical position approximately, said rein levers having lugs adapted to contact said cheek plates to prevent forward swinging movement beyond a `I predetermined normal position.

4. A leverage hackamore bridle-including, in combination, a head stall having cheek straps, a

pair of cheek plates adjust-ably attached to said' cheek-straps and extending substantially at right angles thereto, a nose band plate attached to the upper portion of .said cheek plates adapted to receive and retain the supporting strapof a nose band, adjustable attachment mechanism wherebyfsaid nose band plates may be pivotally adjusted relative to said cheek plates, a pair of rein levers pivotally supported within the lower portion of said cheek plates, said rein-levers comprising downwardly depending rein lever arms and downwardly depending curb lever arms joinedby a connecting web portion at the top, rings attached to the lower ends of said rim lever arms adapted to receive reina-rings attached to the lower ends of said curb lever arms adapted to receive curb straps, and lugs on said rein levers adapted to prevent reverse motion thereof beyond a predetermined position, said curb lever arm rings shaped so that the forward portion of their peripheries is freely open and positioned relative to the pivotal support on said cheek plates so that a curb` lchain freely depending therebetween rests within the lchin groove of a horse on which the hackamore is placed whenv the rein levers depend in normal relaxed position, together with a curb composed of a chain straps attached at each end thereof looped through said curb lever arm WILLIAM I. SIMON.

sii,` 

